Issue 1, 2010
From the journal:

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Sedimentary pools of phosphorus in the eutrophic Tamar estuary (SW England)†

Phil Monbet,*a   Ian D. McKelvieb  and  Paul J. Worsfolda  

* Corresponding authors

a Biogeochemistry & Environmental Analytical Chemistry Group, School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
E-mail: mombz31@yahoo.fr
Fax: +44 (0)1752 233009
Tel: +44 (0)1752 233006

b Water Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

The speciation of phosphorus in Tamar estuary sediment has been determined at eight stations from Gunnislake (riverine end-member) to Torpoint (marine end-member) using the SEDEX (sedimentary extraction) sequential extraction scheme. The seasonal variability of total phosphorus and each of the five fractions is discussed. Total phosphorus, in the range 26–51 µmol g−1, was stored in the relatively labile fractions, particularly in the iron oxide fraction. The well oxygenated waters of the macrotidal Tamar estuary ensure that the surface sediment layer remains oxic, providing an effective barrier that retains dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) within the sedimentary iron oxide fraction and prevents phosphorus migration from the sediment to the water column. The exchangeable and organic phosphorus sedimentary pools, although small, are therefore the main potential sources of phosphorus release to the water column. In particular, this study shows that exchangeable phosphorus and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) in the pore water are intimately linked. Finally, the distribution of phosphorus in the estuary is strongly influenced by particle morphology, with most of the sedimentary phosphorus forms exhibiting significant positive correlations with the percent of each grain size.

Graphical abstract: Sedimentary pools of phosphorus in the eutrophic Tamar estuary (SW England)

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B911429G
Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jun 2009
Accepted
14 Aug 2009
First published
17 Sep 2009

J. Environ. Monit., 2010,12, 296-304

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Sedimentary pools of phosphorus in the eutrophic Tamar estuary (SW England)

P. Monbet, I. D. McKelvie and P. J. Worsfold, J. Environ. Monit., 2010, 12, 296 DOI: 10.1039/B911429G

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